Wrestling: Pirates 'come up short' of Gators 51-23

The Pirates are now 3-2 on the season in duals and will compete in the Mahnomen-Waubun Dual Tournament Friday.

Badger/Greenbush-Middle River built a 21-0 lead on Crookston in the first four matches and never looked back as it beat the Pirates, who had three open weights, 51-23 Tuesday in Greenbush, Minn.

"The score doesn't really reflect how close it really was," noted Pirate head coach Chad Hitchen. "We came up short in the end but at 106 and 120 we were losing the matches with about a minute left and we got turned over on our backs to give up six points. All those extra points add up. Colton Weiland wrestled well in a loss to the kid who won the Big Bear. Looking good were the kind of the guys we look to carry our team like Cody Weiland with a decision, Nate Merten with major, Blake Bergeron continues to look good, Luke Edlund won in a major and A.J. continues to rack up pin points as well."

The Pirates earned decisions in the next two matches with junior Cody Weiland and senior Nate Merten, winning by a major decision. B/G-MR won the next two matches by major decision and pin before Crookston's Blake Bergeron, a senior, won in a quick pin at 160 pounds and junior Luke Edlund won in a major decision.

Following a pin and two forfeits in favor of B/G-MR, Pirate senior A.J. Biermaier finished the match with a first-period pin at 285 pounds.

"The dual was much closer, especially with three open weights," Hitchen explained. "Giving them 18 points, especially a team like Greenbush, is tough. We've had one kid sick for three weeks. We kind of got out-wrestled too in some matches. We have to get better and healthy and fill our lineup."

In the latest rankings by The Guillotine, Merten has broken into the rankings and is ranked No. 9 at 138 pounds in Class A. Bergeron rose from No. 6 to No. 4 at 160 pounds. Cody Weiland, who was ranked No. 5 at 138 pounds has dropped out of the top 10.

"It's hard to put much value in those rankings," Hitchen said. "It gives attention for our parents and gives those sports editors something to write. It gives those kids confidence too.

"Cody probably dropped out because he lost some matches he should have won," coach Hitchen continued. "If you're going to be ranked in the top six you shouldn't have bad matches. If you're that good to be there you shouldn't have bad matches."

The Pirates are now 3-2 on the season in duals and will compete in the Mahnomen-Waubun Dual Tournament Friday.

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